Pressurized container, more particularly spray can



P 25, 1967 ERICH-ARTHUR NIER ETAL 3,343,730

PRESSURIZED CONTAINER, MORE PARTICULARLY SPRAY CAN Filed 001,. 21, 1965 Fig. 7

IN V EN TORE EAIC/I-ARZHU/P N09? Y RIO-MRO mwsr 1W6? M m uv'wk l I United States Patent Claims. (Cl. 222-402.24

The present invention relates to a pressurized container, more particularly a spray can, comprising a manually operated valve head having an outlet valve (spray valve), said valve head being mounted on the head of the pressurized container by a retaining cap so as to have fluid-tight connection therewith. Spray cans of the type indicated are in use in a variety of ways and are used, for instance, for spraying insecticides, hair net and the like. Usually, the end of the valve head has mounted thereon a spray nozzle body to which pressure is applied by the finger to open the spray valve.

In prior art pressurized containers of the type indicated the valve head is mounted on the pressurized container by a retaining cap made of sheet metal, the rim of which is flanged to the neck of the pressurized container also made of sheet metal. Internally of the retaining cap the valve head is retained by an impressed bead. Thus, with the prior art arrangements there must first be provided a bead connection between the valve head and the retaining cap and thereupon in a second operation a flange connection between the retaining cap and the neck of the pressurized container. Flanging of the cap rim must be provided on a relatively large diameter, thereby considerably limiting the possibilities of shaping pressurized containers of this type. Besides, the sheet metal caps are highly susceptible to corrosion and become unsightly very soon.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages as hereinbefore describedand, using plastic pressurized containers, provide for a simple, labor saving mounting of the valve head on a small diameter.

According to the invention this object is attained by providing that the head of the pressurized container, made of plastic, is formed with a shoulder around a central opening thereof, which opening is intended to accommodate the valve head. Seated on the container shoulder is an annular shoulder of the valve head and also the face of the retaining cap connected with the head of the pressurized container. Thus, the valve head need not be mounted internally of the retaining cap in any specific manner, but is retained by its annular shoulder between the shoulder of the pressurized container and the retaining cap. There are various possibilities of firmly connecting the retaining cap to the pressurized container. The simplest way is to have the retaining cap made of plastic and to weld the same, as by ultrasonic action, at the abutting face thereof to the shoulder of the pressurized container.

Mounting of the retaining cap may also be effected in that the head of the pressurized container is formed with a recess above the shoulder, into which a retaining cap the outer surface of which is grooved is pressed, preferably by simultaneous supersonic action. In such case, the retaining cap may also be a metallic or ceramic piece or the like which cannot readily be welded to the plastic head of the pressurized container. In both cases, at least space consumption, only one operation is required to firmly un removably mount the valve head. The design of the valve ice head and of the spray valve per se is immaterial to the present invention.

Two embodiments of the invention are presented in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and described as follows.

A pressurized container 1 has mounted thereon a head piece 2 consisting of plastic, being formed with a central opening 3 and with a shoulder 4 around such opening.

The central opening 3 has inserted therein a valve head 5 which with an annular shoulder 6 thereof seats on an external shoulder 4. Head 5 has valve elements 5a incorporated therein. Valve head 5 has connected thereto a plastic hose 7 protruding into the pressurized container 1. The valve head 5 is provided with an upwardly protruding axially downwardly pressable ascending tube 8 carrying a removable spray nozzle body 9. Vertical movement of tube 8 actuates the valve elements 5a. Further associated with the valve head 5 is a rubber ring or washer 10 surrounding the ascending tube 8, closing the inlet 11' of a spray channel 11. Rubber ring 10 bears against wall 12a of a retaining cap 12. Cap 12 is made of plastic and has an internal cavity 12b. It has a stepped face 12 seated on shoulder 4 and being welded thereto as by ultrasonic action. Finger pressure applied to the spray nozzle body 9 will cause the rubber ring 10 to arch downwardly in a manner known per se so that opening 11' of the spray channel 11 will be cleared and the pressurized contents of the container passing through the hose 7 into the valve head 5, may discharge through the spray channel 11. The retaining cap 12 welded to the head piece 2 is operative to retain the whole valve head 5-10, the shaping of the pressurized container 1 and of the head piece 2 not being impeded on account of the relatively small diameter of the retaining cap 12.

In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2 the same valve head 5 with annular shoulder 6, hose 7, ascending tube 8, spray nozzle body 9 and rubber ring 10 is pro vided. Here, the pressurized container 13 is made from a plastic material which cannot be welded to the material of a retaining cap 14 corresponding to cap 12. Provision is therefore made that a recess 15 is formed in the head of the pressurized container 13 above the external shoulder 4' having seated thereon annular shoulder 6. The outer surface of retaining cap 14 is provided with grooves 14. By simultaneous ultrasonic action, after insertion of valve head 5, the retaining cap 14 will be firmly pressed into recess 15 and the plastic material will be forced into grooves 14', ensuring a tight connection between retaining cap 14 and pressurized container 13. Cap 14 has an internal cavity 141: to receive annular shoulder 6 and washer 10. Washer 10 abuts end wall 14a.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a pressurized container of material to be dispensed, the flow of which material is controlled by valve elements in a valve head mounted in the head of container, the improvement comprising: said container head being made of plastic and defining an opening through which said valve head extends, said container head defining an external shoulder, said valve head having an annular shoulder abutting an inner portion of said external shoulder immediately about the opening, and a retaining cap having an internal cavity in which the annular shoulder is received, said cap defining an annular face about said cavity which face abuts the portion of said external shoulder outside of said valve head annular shoulder, said cap being afiixed to said container head.

2. In a pressurized container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said retaining cap is plastic as is bonded to the plastic container cap at said abutment of the annular face and the external shoulder.

3. In a pressurized container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bond is an ultrasonic weld.

4. In a pressurized container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container head defines a recess at the external side thereof, said external shoulder being in the base of said recess, said valve head having a portion in said recess in contact with the container walls defining said recess, said portion and said walls having interengaging ridges and grooves.

5. In a pressurized container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cap has a wall defining the end of said cavity, said wall having an opening therethrough smaller in crosssection than the cross-section of the cavity, and including a resilient washer between said annular shoulder and said wall of said cap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Spiess et al. 222-394 Huthing et a1. 222394 X Quercia 222394 Woodland 156-73 Briechle 29453 X Deans 156580 Soloft et a1. 156-73 Clozeau et al 222-394 X Great Britain.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PRESSURIZED CONTAINER OF MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED, THE FLOW OF WHICH MATERIAL IS CONTROLLED BY VALVE ELEMENTS IN A VALVE HEAD MOUNTED IN THE HEAD OF CONTAINER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID CONTAINER HEAD BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND DEFINING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID VALVE HEAD EXTENDS, SAID CONTAINER HEAD DEFINING AN EXTERNAL SHOULDER, SAID VALVE HEAD HAVING AN ANNULAR SHOULDER ABUTTING AN INNER PORTION OF SAID EXTERNAL SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY ABOUT THE OPENING, AND A RETAINING CAP HAVING AN INTERNAL CAVITY IN WHICH THE ANNULAR SHOULDER IS RECEIVED, SAID CAP DEFINING AN ANNULAR FACE ABOUT SAID CAVITY WHICH FACE ABUTS THE PORTION OF SAID EXTERNAL SHOULDER OUTSIDE OF SAID VALVE HEAD ANNULAR SHOULDER, SAID CAP BEING AFFIXED TO SAID CONTAINER HEAD. 